Programs - agrivision.usask.ca - University of Saskatchewan

Garry Sloik
Garry is the Secretary-Manager of Keystone Vegetable Producers Association and a
farmer at Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Keystone is the voluntary association for
producers that grow processing potatoes with Midwest Food Products, McCain Foods,
Simplot Canada and Cavendish Farms of Jamestown, North Dakota. By far, the majority
of the irrigated acreage in Manitoba is used to produce processing potatoes.
Manager-Secretary
Keystone Vegetable Producers
Association
Box 545
Portage La Prairie, MB R1N 3B9
Tel: 1-204-239-4932
Fax: 1-204-239-1434
Email: kvpa@escape.ca
Garry is also the Manager and a shareholder in Prairie Potato Inc., a farm west of
Portage. They produce about 1,200 acres of potatoes, 600 acres of edible beans and
1,200 acres of cereals. Previously Garry worked for Carnation Foods Co. Ltd., Manitoba
Agriculture and McCain Foods. Garry will be highlighting irrigation uses in Manitoba and
report on some of their own experiences with irrigation.
Bruce M. Smith
Bruce is a shareholder in the Boise firm of Moore Smith Buxton & Turcke. In his
practice, Bruce focuses on natural resource, environmental, business, and commercial
law, and focuses on public lands, water rights, water quality, Clean Water Act, and
Endangered Species Act matters. He represents clients in the timber, mining, ranching,
and agricultural industries. He is a highly acclaimed speaker and an expert on the
sustainable use of water resources for economic growth and rural renewal.
Natural Resource & Water Law
Attorney
Moore Smith Buxton & Turcke
225 N. 9th St., Suite 420
Boise, Idaho 83702
Tel: 1-208-331-1202
Fax: 1-208-331-1800
Email: aad@msbtlaw.com
Water has played a major role in the economic development of Idaho and the Western
United States. Bruce will speak on his experience in how the astute use of water has
been a key part in expanding the economy in the western U.S.A. He will describe the
details of the water based economic expansion, the lessons learned and how it can
happen in Saskatchewan.
Jerome Strasser
President
Rural Pipelines Association
Box 369
Bruno, SK S0K 0S0
Tel: 1-306-369-4187
Fax: 1-306-369-4188
Jerome is the Mayor of Bruno and the Chair of the Board for the Wakaw/Humboldt
Regional Water Pipeline Supply System. He operates a family farm as well as Strasser
Services Inc., a family business which manages the Bruno Ursuline Campus for the
University of Saskatchewan. Jerome completed seven years of Mechanical
Apprenticeship training and earned journeymen status in the mechanical and millwright
trades while attending SIAST. He then worked at Central Potash for 20 years as a
mechanical supervisor and three years as a sales representative for Western Canada
and Northern U.S. regions.
Jerome will focus his presentation on the importance of municipal pipelines and how a
safe, reliable and consistent water supply is a key factor in the economic development
of a community. Jerome will speak on his experience in being part of the
Wakaw/Humboldt Regional Water Pipeline and the impact it has made to the community
in terms of value-added agriculture and quality of life.
Jim Webber
General Manager
Western Irrigation District
201 Pine Road
Strathmore, AB T1P 1C1
Tel: 1-403-934-3542
Fax: 1-403-934-5101
Email: jwebber@wid.net
Jim is a Civil Engineer BSc (Honours), with a specialty in water resources. He was
trained in the UK, and obtained a background in river engineering, flood control and
drainage. He came with his family to Canada in 1982, to work for the Eastern Irrigation
District as the District Engineer. He stayed for 17 years, the last 13 years as the
General Manager. With the Eastern Irrigation District he was responsible for the
operation of the second largest irrigation block in Canada. Jim left to join UMA
Engineering in 1999 where he worked in the Pacific NW, USA, looking for new business
opportunities for irrigation engineering services. He came back to irrigation
management in late 2000 to be the General Manager of the Western Irrigation District.
Jim will speak on how irrigation can be an economic engine. Irrigation not only
guarantees crop product, but improved yield and quality allows the farmer to grow a
broader range of products that support value added processing.